titanium or carbon frame bicycle your help appreciated

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Comments

  • flattythehurdler
    flattythehurdler Posts: 2,314
    Ghisallo it is I reckon., What kind of forks would anyone recommend?
    Dan
  • dcj
    dcj Posts: 395
    The later Ghisallos all seem to come with Easton forks. I think Litespeed gave up on their own brand offerings about the same time I bought my bike 2 years ago.

    I test rode the own-brand Real Design forks which did not match my expectations at the time, for example braking hard downhill to stop at a T junction.

    I opted to have the Easton EC90 SLX forks which are about 295gms. I found these really compliment the frame characteristics - the forks are very light and stiff but still comfy.
    I believe the Ghisallo now comes with Easton forks as standard which is a very good decision for the customer, although any shop would agree to supply another brand if preferred.

    The current geometry Ghisallo is offered with a taller head tube.
    This is an important improvement compared to my frame because less or no spacers are needed to achieve optimum handlebar height.
  • flattythehurdler
    flattythehurdler Posts: 2,314
    thanks. that's my pressie sorted
    Dan
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    dcj wrote:
    Granted that the Ghisallo is one of the lightest frames ever ... you can make a very light Ti frame, but you can't make it stiff The Ghisallo is reknowned as being a dreadful handling frame, flexy frame, not fabulous.

    I have a Ghisallo from 2005. I test rode this version for a week as I had heard negative comments about wishy-washy handling and lack of stiffness on the 2003 version.

    Sometimes comments are hearsay, misinformation, no longer relevant, or in one case a magazine review that focused criticism on the own-brand forks which was not relevant to me as I did not purchase those forks.

    I also have a new carbon bike with carbonsports wheels which I am extremely very pleased with.
    However, the Ghisallo has a far far smoother ride, and is just as responsive out of the saddle.
    Pushed hard on the alpine descents of the 2006 Etape it felt close to perfection, especially under hard braking from high speeds.

    Where the carbon bike is good is it was so much cheaper albeit you give up the wonderful smooth ride quality.

    So in my experience - cost no object - for some riders a Ghisallo would represent a near perfect blend of handing, agility and real comfort, to which can be added durability of finish.


    if it works for you then fair play. but, to be fair, it has tested very poorly for stiffness, and lots of people have ridden it (including magazines yes) have said it handles very poorly. i know someone who sold his as he didn't feel confident on it.

    are you a light rider?
  • dcj
    dcj Posts: 395
    if it works for you then fair play. but, to be fair, it has tested very poorly for stiffness, and lots of people have ridden it (including magazines yes) have said it handles very poorly. i know someone who sold his as he didn't feel confident on it.

    This is why democracy doesn't work :roll:
    'it' is the inadequate word that lumps together the original version Ghisallo, a much-changed middle version out late in 2004 which I ride, and the latest version. Plus not forgetting the red herring also known as the Real Design forks which were the source of many adverse comments.

    Therefore any opinions that describe Ghisallo handling and performance would have added value if these contextural details were included. Unfortunately, hardly any do so they are of little use to someone researching a new purchase.

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